Web roll controlling device for printing machines



A. J. HORTON Get. 11, m2.

WEB ROLL CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 27, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet A. J. HORTON WEB ROLL CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PRINTINGMACHINES Filed April 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 prevent it runnin I isdecelerated q-uic ly; that will act when the machine is started, toinstantly remove the Patented Oct. 1-1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE=--or'm3w YORK, N. Y.,

ALBERT'J'. HORTON, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK,'ASSIGNOR TO B. HOE & CO.,INC.,

' A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK WEB-ROLL CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PRINTINGMACHINES Application filed April 27,

I running to the press; that will apply a brake to overcome the momentumof the roll and ahead when the machine lbrakevpressurepreviously appliedto the roll to stop-lit, and thus avoid imposing excessive strain on theweb during the starting period;

" great'brake'pressure cannot be applied too' fand'thatwillinclude-means to so control the action of the mechanism that arelatively ra idly.

.= rolls, of ,whereby the device will bejsimple, durable andinexpensiyfliinionstruction, as well ascient in its user;

' t is. also an object of the. invention to provide a' tension device:for F controlling web generally improved construction,

convenient, pi'acticl,,,serviceable and elfi- "With the foregoing andother objects in I view, which'willj. appear as the; descriptionproceeds, the invention resides in'the combination and arrangement ofparts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed, itbeing understood that various changes in the preciseembodiment of. the invention herein disclosed may be made within thescope of what is claimed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invvention.

Web roll tension devices have been used in the'past in which a floatingroller such as is herein shown was used to automatically operatea brakewhich inturncontrolled the rotation of vtheweb roll,"the object being to"I n'iaintaina s'ubsta'ntially constant tension on the unwindingwehand adash pot has been I used to'preyentrapi oscillation of the'fioat- Mo'rse {Patent 1,103,-

1. f ors' v c t both the rise and fall of the floating roller. Amechanism in the'same class is disclosed in Jones Patent 1,395,830,dated November 1,

e'dash pot'restrains 1929. Serial No. 358,481.

1921, in which the dashpot operates to retard the rise of the floatingroller but allows it to descend without restraint.

When a printing machine having the tension' mechanism herein shown isrunning, a tightening of the web reduces the brake pressure and aslackening of the web increases it.

When the machine is decelerated rapidly there is a tendency for thewebroll to run ahead but the slack thus formed allows the floating rollerto descend andincrease the brake pressure thereby checking the rotationof the roll.

. After a rapid deceleration the brake will I remain applied to the rollwith a heavy pressure but when the press is restarted the brake pressurewill be instantly removed and thus allow the roll to rotate freely andavoid excessiveostrain on the web.

- In the tension devices of this class that do not use a dash pot oritsequivalent, under some conditions, particularly when running atcertain slow speeds and with a small web .formed allows the roller todescend quickly and apply the brake with force sufficient to stop theroll. The continued pull of the web running to the machine then raisesthe floating roller and the cycle is repeated indefinitely'withincreasingly violent oscillation of the floating roller and itultimately breaks the web in many instances.

The use of a dash pot connected to the sup- I port for the floatinroller retards its motion and prevents the hunting action; However, asheretofore. used, it also prevents instantaneous action offloatingroller to relieve thebrake pressure when the machine is startedyandconsequently unless the brake is slackened manually, excessive strain isimiposed on the web until the dash pot allows the floating roller torise. The mechanism disclosed herein, avoids this difliculty.

In many cases the web'rolls are not evenly necessary to 4 -jacent to thwound, being elliptical in section instead of circular. Due to theirinertia, the rolls tend to rotate at a constant speed, and when feedinga web from a poorly wound roll it is provide means to compensate for theirregularity in the speed of the web as it unwinds. Rollers carried onspring supported bearings and around which the webs are carried have bensatisfactorily used for this purpose, but when web rolls of varying sizeare used, it is necessary to provide a separate roller of the correctlength for each width of web, for if a narrow web is run adend of aroller adapted to carry a full widti web, thepull of the web at theinstant it is feedingfrom a low spot on the roll, will cause but one ofthe spring bearings to recede and in consequence one edge of the web issubjected to. a strain whichfrequently breaks it.

A floating roller' that has the required amount of free action willfollow the irregularities of the running web, and when supported asherein shown is adapted to operate with either wide or narrow webs.

Figure 1 of the drawin s shows one form of the invention as applie to aprinting machine, and as viewed from the side of the machine.

Figure 2 shows a modified arrangement, the view beingsimilar in mostrespects to I Figure 1.

' partly 3 is a view partly in section and partly broken away,vshowingthe arrangement depicted in Figure 1, and as viewed in the direction ofarrow 3 of that figure.

Figure 4 is a view partly in section and broken away, showing thearrangement depicted in Figures 1 and 3, and as viewed in the-directionof arrow 4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a view partly broken away, showingthe arrangement depicted in Figure 2 and as viewed in the direction ofarrow 5 of t at figure.

Figure 6 is a view partly in section and partly broken away showing thearrangement depicted in Figures 2 and 5, and as viewed in the directionof arrow 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the eccentricby means of which the brake is operated.-

Referring to the drawings, 11 and 11' indicate frame members ofaprinting machine, and 12a bracket secured thereto which is Figure 1made with a well known form of open bearing for the spindle 13, to whicha web roll 14 maybe secured.

A V brake sheave 15, of the usual form is secured to the spindle 13, andis engaged The handwheel 23 has a right and left hand v threaded shaft24 which engages the corre- 'This is a well known spondingly screwthreaded sleeves 25 and 26. The sleeve 25 is pivoted on the arm 18, andthe sleeve 26 engages a stud on the arm 17. form of hand tension devicefor controlling the roll as the web is drawn from it by the machine. Thehandwheel 28, which is also old in the art, is secured to a threadedshaft and serves to move the brake mechanism, and with it, the spindle13, for adjusting the position of the web roll axially.

The shaft 21 is free to rotate in the bracket 22, and has an eccentricportion 29, which rotates in the tub of the arm 18. Thus, by

rotating the shaft 21, the pressure of the adjustable by means of screwsand 36.

The position of the roller may thus be adjusted to make it bear properlyagainst the web 'even though the roll in use may be larger on one endthan on the other.

The web is then led to and around the float ing roller37 which isrotatably supported in the arms 38 and 38, secured to the shaft 39,which is journaled in hearings inthe frames 11 and 11'. The web thenpasses around the roller 41, carried in fixed bearings secured to theframes 11 and 11, and is led to the printing cylinders.

An arm 42 is secured to the shaft 39, and is provided with a rod 43, onwhich a counter weight 44 is fitted to slide. -A projection 44 on theweight engages with any one of a series of notches 45 formed on the arm42. By turning the weight on the red, the projection is disenga ed fromthe notch and the weight may then ie moved lengthwise on the rod andallowed to rest in another notch. By this means the effective weight ofthe floating roller 37 may be varied in order to regulate the tension onthe web running to the machine. e

A connecting rod 46 is pivotally connected to the arm 42, and to a lever47, secured to the shaft 21. It will thus be understood that a rise orfall of the 'floating roller 37 will result in turning the shaft 21, andreducing or increasing the brake pressure.

A. dash pot is pivoted on a stud 49 secured to the frame 11, and has apiston 51 connected-to a piston rod 52, the other end of which slides ina swivel connection 53, rotatably secured to the arm 38. A collar 54having a sleeve 54, is secured to the piston rod and provides anabutment for a relatively light spring 55, the other end of which bearsagainst the swivel connection 53. Another the collar 56 is screwthreaded on the end of the piston rod 52 and may be locked in lace by aset screw. By turning the collar 56,

the gap between the sleeve 54' andltheconnection 53 may be adjusted tovary the free downward movement of the floating roller.

a check valve in the reverse which obstructs its passage In thepreferred construction,

direction. the piston tending therethrough and a disc 58, is pressedagainst the openings by the spring 59,-the opposite end of which isfastened to a projecting portion of the piston rod 52,

hen the piston is raised the pressure of fluid overcomes the pressure ofthe s ring and the openings allow the fluid to pass reely from the topto the bottom of the piston, but when the piston is pressed down, thedisc is forced against the openings and closes them, except for a smallaperture, the size of which maybe regulated by the adjusting screw 61,which is screwed into the piston and the end ofwhich bears against thedisc 58.

end of the sleeve 54 sto ed 1' kl PP (1116 y floating roller.

It will be seen that the floating roller may rise'unrestricted by thedash pot, and that by compressing the spring 55, it may also descendfreely for a limited distance which is governed by the space between theupper and the swivel connection 53, but any further downward'inotion isretarded by the dash pot.

It has been found that the mechanism herein disclosed can be so adjustedthat the floating roller will freely follow the irregularities in theweb being drawn from the roll, and that the dash pot can be regulated topermit the floating roller to descend with sufficient rapidity toprevent'the roll from overrunning when the press is decelerated or andstill act to prevent a hunting action of the floating roller.

In the form of the invention shown in F igure 2, the floating roller isarranged to operate in thejopposite direction from thatshown in, Figure1, and an adjustablesprin the effective weight of the In this form theadjustable is used 130* vary roller 32 is omitted and its function per-I formed by the floating roller, which in this arrangement has one of somade that it is adjustable with relation to the other arm.

' As shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, the floating ,roller 62 is rotatablysupported in arms 63 and 63', the latter being secured to the shaft 64,which is journa'led in brackets 65 and 65. The arm 63 is adjustably-connected to the arm 66 by means of the screw 67, which passes througha clearance hole in the arm 66, is

provided with athrust collar 68, and is screwed into a projecting lugformed on the 51 is formed with openings 57 ex-.

its supporting arms arm 63. 'Arm 66 is secured to the shaft 64, but arm63 may be turned on the shaft by turning the screw 67 It will beunderstoodnected toa head formed on one. end of the rod 71, and theother end .of thesrod slides in the swivel connection 72,

which is supported so as to turn in the bracket '69.

The handwheel 73 is screw threaded on the rod 71, and presses againstthe spring 74:, the'cother end of which bears against the swivelconnection to lift the floating roller, and may be adjusted by turningthe handwheel. An adjusting collar 75 is screwed on the lower end of rod71 and serves to limit the upward motion of the floating roller.

An arm 76 is secured to the shaft 64 and is pivotally connected to therod 77, which corresponds with rod 46 of Figure 1. I

The web is led from the roll, to and around the' roller 78 which iscarried in bearings fixed to the frames 11 and 11, thence around thefloating roller 62 and from there to the printin cylinders.

It wi be seen that with this arrangement, a tightening ofthe web'willpull the floating roller downand release the and that when the webslackens the floating roller will rise and tighten the brake.

In operation, after a web roll is'placed in position and the web carriedaround the rollers as shown, the press is started and the brakegradually tightened by means of the handwheel 23. In the arrangementshown in Figure 1, as the handwheel is screwed up, the floating rollerwill rise. It is so adjusted that the'roller assumes the position shownin g the drawings, and it'is unnecessary to change the setting while theWeb from the roll is being run ofi'. Inthe arra ngment shown in Figure2, tightening the brake by means 01 the handwheel will cause thefloating roller to descend.

It will be seen that a mechanism has been provided that will act torestrain the rotation of a web roll when the web being fed therefromslackens, and reduce the restraint when the webtightens, that willprevent a too rapid application of the restraining action, but willpermit the restrain to be quickly removed when the machine'is. started,and will follow irregularities in the run of the web coming from theroll and maintain a substantially 7 2. The spring thus tends brakepressure,

constant tension on the web running to the machine. 1 What I claim is:

1. In a web roll controlling device, a floating roller movingtransversely to its axis in response to variations in the slack of theunwinding web, a braking mechanism connected thereto, which acts torestrain the rotation of the roll when the web slackens and to reducetherestraint when the web tightens, and a retarding device arranged topermit free movement of the floating roller when the web tightens, andto restrict such movement when the web slackens.

2. In a web roll controllin device, a floating roller movingtransverseIy to its axis in response to variations in the slack of theunwinding web, a braking mechanism connected thereto, which acts torestrain the rotationof the roll when the web slackens and to reduce therestraint when the web tightens,

- and a retarding device arranged to permit free movement of thefloating roller when theweb tightens, and to restrict such movement whenthe web slackens morethan a predetermined amount. I

3. In a web rollcontrolling device, a floating'roller movingtransversely to its axis in response to variations in the slack of theunwinding web, a braking mechanism connected thereto which acts torestrain the rotation of the roll when the web slackens and to reducethe restraint when the web tightens, and a retarding device arranged topermit free movement of the floating roller normally, but to restrainthe movement which tightens the brake when such movement exceeds apredetermined extent. r

4. In a web roll controlling device, a floating roller movingtransversely to its axis inresponse tovariations in the slack of theunwmding web, a braking mechanism connected thereto which acts torestrain the rotation of the roll when the web slackens and to reducethe restraint when the web tightens, and a retarding device arranged topermit an exmg roller moving transversely to its axis in I tended freemovement of the floating roller when the web tightens, and a limitedfree movement when the web slackens, but acting to retard the movementof the roller when a slackness of the web permits the movement to exceeda predetermined extent.

5. In a web roll controlling device, a floating roller moving transversey to its axis in response to variations in the slack of the unwindingweb, a braking mechanism connected thereto which acts to restrain therotation of the roll when the web slackens and to reduce the restraintwhen the web tightens, a retarding device arranged to permit an extendedfree movement of the floating roller when the web tightens and when theweb slackens to permit a limited free movement, and means to vary theextent of said limited free movement.

6. In a web roll controlling device, afloat ing roller movingtransversely to its axis in response to variations in the slack of theunwinding web, a braking mechanism connected thereto, which actstorestrain the rotation of the roll when the web slackens and to reducethe restraint when the web tightens, and a retarding device arranged topermit an extended free movement of the floating roller when the webtightens, and when the web slackens, to permit a limited free movementand an extended retarded movement.

7. In a web roll controlling device, a floating roller movingtransversely to its axis in response to variations in the slack of theunwinding web, a braking mechanism connected thereto which acts torestrain the rotation of the roll when the web slackens and to reducethe restraint when the web tightens,and a retarding device arranged toprevent rapid application of the restraining action beyond thatnecessary to allow the roller to follow irregularities in the running ofthe web as it is drawn from the roll; said retarding device beingarranged to freely permit removal of the restraining action when the webtightens.

8. In a web roll controllin device, a floating roller moving transversey to its axis in response to variations in the slack of the unwindingweb, a braking mechanism con nected thereto, which acts to restrain therotation of the roll when the web slackens and to reduce the restraintwhen the web tightens, and a retarding device arranged to per mit freemovement of the floating roller when the web tightens, and to restrictsuch movement when the web slackens, said retarding device having amoving element;

loosely connected to one of the members that move in response tovariations in the slack o f the web and being so biased that thelooseness will permit a limited movement of the member in one directionwithout such movement being restricted by the retarding device.

9. In a web roll controlling device, a floatresponse to variations inthe slack of the unwinding web, a braking mechanism connect:

ed thereto, which acts to restrain the rotation of the roll when the webslackens and 'to reduce the restraint when the web tightens, and aretarding device arranged to per mit free movement of the floatingroller when the web tightens, and to restrict such;

the floating roller in the direction which restrains the roll.

10. In a web roll controlling device, a suitably supported floatingroller moving trans:

mamas versely to its axis in response to variations in the slack of theunwinding web a braking mechanism connected thereto, which acts torestrain the rotation of the roll when the 5 web slackens and to reducethe restraint when the web tightens, and a retarding device arranged topermit free movement of the floating roller when the web tightens, andto restrict such movement when the web slackm ens, said retarding devicecomprising a dash pot having a piston with a piston rod looselyconnected to the floating roller support and so biased that thelooseness will permit a limited movement of the roller support,

15 unrestricted by the dash pot.

11. In a web roll controlling device, a floating roller movingtransversely to its axis in response to variations in the slack of theunwinding web, a braking mechanism connected thereto which acts torestrain the rotation of the roll when the web slackens and to reducethe restraint when the web tightens, and means arranged to permitsufficient free movement of the floating roller a" to allow it to followirregularities in the running of the web as it is drawn from the roll,but restraining the movement which tightens the brake, when suchmovement ex- "ceeds a predetermined extent. 80 12. In a web'rollcontrolling device, a floating roller moving transversely to its axis inI response to variations in the slack of the unwinding web, a brakingmechanism connected thereto, which acts to restrain the ro- 86 tation ofthe roll when the web slackens and to reduce the restraint when the webtightens, and means for varying the pressure of the floating roller onthe web; said means including an arm having'a rod, a weight slid- 40able thereon, and locking means on the arm engaging the weight to holdit in position, said loc ing means being disengageable by turning theweight.

,13. In a web roll controlling device, a

floating roller moving transversely to its axis in response tovariations in the slack of the unwinding web, a braking mechanismconnected thereto, which acts to restrain the rotation of the roll whenthe web slackens and to reduce the restraint when the web tightens, adevice arranged to retard excessive action of the floating roller in onedirection, and means for varying the pressure of the roller on the web;said means com- 55 prising an arm having a rod, a weight slidablethereon and locking means on the arm engaging the weight to hold it inposition,

said locking means being disengageable by turning the weight.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

ALBEiz'r J. ORTON.

